Devices and methods for treating lung tumors

Abstract

An RF (radiofrequency) ablation catheter device having a flexible shaft, a distal end, an inflatable balloon mounted on the shaft, having a portion of the flexible shaft that is distal to the inflatable balloon and an RF electrode located on the distal segment of the shaft. A device and method of treating a tumor in a patient having a liquid conductive material, inserting an ablation catheter device into a body organ, advancing the ablation catheter device to a passageway at a target site in the body organ, instilling a volume of the liquid conductive material into the passageway; and applying an RF current to the liquid conductive material.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A method of treating a tumor in a patient, comprising:
 having a liquid conductive material that comprises gallium;   inserting an ablation catheter device into a body organ;   advancing the ablation catheter device to a passageway at a target site in the body organ;   instilling a volume of the liquid conductive material into the passageway; applying an RF current to the liquid conductive material.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the organ is a lung of the patient, and wherein the passageway is a bronchial airway of the lung. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of instilling comprises instilling the liquid conductive material into at least three branches of the bronchial airway. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein alveoli of the bronchial airway are not filled with the liquid conductive material. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 having a flexible bronchoscope that comprises an instrument channel;   inserting the ablation catheter device through the instrument channel of the bronchoscope;   advancing the bronchoscope through the passageway to the target site in the body organ;   advancing the ablation catheter device out of the instrument channel of the bronchoscope and into the passageway at the target site in the body organ.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising aspirating the conductive liquid material out of the passageway by suction through the bronchoscope. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising visualizing the ablation catheter device by x-ray fluoroscopy while advancing the ablation catheter device to the target site in the body organ. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising visualizing the liquid conductive material by x-ray fluoroscopy while instilling the liquid conductive material into the passageway. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising inflating the balloon to obstruct the passageway. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the body organ is a liver of the patient. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the body organ is a pancreas of the patient. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the body organ is a biliary tract of the patient. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the volume of the liquid conductive material instilled is less than 2.0 ml. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the liquid conductive material is a mixture that further comprises indium. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the conductive liquid material is instilled only into bronchial airways having a diameter of less than 9 mm. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the conductive liquid material is instilled only into bronchial airways having a length of less than 10 cm.